A 37-year-old man, Edward Innocent, was arraigned before a Kaduna Magistrates’ Court on Thursday for allegedly stealing his neighbour’s Lexus vehicle valued at ₦6.5 million.
Innocent, a resident of Kamazou, faces charges of conspiracy and theft. He pleaded not guilty.
Prosecuting counsel, Inspector Chidi Leo, informed the court that Innocent and accomplices—currently at large—conspired to steal the vehicle belonging to his neighbour, Blessed Timothy, while he was away.
Leo said the stolen Lexus Jeep, with registration number KAD 442 GN, was traced to Innocent during police investigations. The defendant reportedly admitted to handing the car over to a friend to sell.
The offences contravene Sections 78 and 217 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law of 2017, with Section 217 prescribing up to five years in prison for theft.
Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel granted Innocent bail in the sum of ₦500,000, with two sureties in like amount. The sureties must be gainfully employed and provide evidence of tax payments to the Kaduna State Government for the past two years.
